Indexing and dividing apparatus



Dec; 9, I94 7.

c. PETERS INDHXING AND DIYIDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 no m9.

LIFliIIII (Ittoineg;

Dec. 9, 1947. c. PETERS 2,432,336

INDEXING AND DIVIDING APPARATUS medreb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m & gm my #2 avg m attorneys Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,432,336 INDEXING AND mvmmc APPARATUS Carl Peters, Dearbrn,'Mich.

.Applicationliebruary 16, 1945, Serial "Na-578,335

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to indexing and dividing apparatus, and more particularly to an indexing and dividing head for supporting work pieces to be formed into circular templates or the like where extreme accuracy and precision is a major factor.

The primary object of the invention is to :provide an indexing and dividing mechanism which is absolutely accurate and which may be operated with a high degree of precision, to position a circular or round work piece in proper relationwith respect to a machine tool so as to remove metal therefrom at a predetermined location.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indexing and dividing head including .a'rotatable work piece support which is adapted to be rotated to various predetermined angular positions by means of alinearly movable operator in such a manner as to convert the linear distance through which said operator is moved :to angular distances and thereby eliminate faulty computations and errors incident to dividing and indexing heads, the angular distance of which is indicated by being graduated into degrees, minutes and seconds.

Another object of the invention is to providean indexing and dividing head which can be used for dividing the circumference of a work piece or the like intoan equal number of divisional parts spaced one from the other an equal circumferential distance.

Another objectof theinvention is to provide an indexing and dividing apparatus which employs linear units of measurement .in lieu of angular degree measuring units in such a manner as to obtain a higher degree of accuracy and precision.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an indexing and dividing apparatus which is rendered absolutely accurate by the use of gauge blocks of predetermined known linear dimensions thereby avoiding errors occurring through the use of the angular unit of measurement which arise by reason of the inability ,of the human eye to determine angular distances in terms of degree .graduations by the observations of sight lines and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indexing and dividing mechanism which is comparatively simpleto operate and which .comprises .a relatively small number of parts to become worn and out of order, whereby the ac.- curacy of the indexing apparatus willvbe maintained and absolute precisionobtained over long periods of use.

.Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of theaccompanying drawings. wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the indexing and dividing apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure .2 is a side elevational view of the indexing and dividing head showing portions thereof broken away to illustrate var-ious details of construction;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the irregularline .3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the manner in which the gauge block may be inserted between a stop carried by the slide .anda stop carried by the base;

Figure dis a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure .1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the manner in which the pressure adjusting means is controlled for urging theslideinto frictional engagement with the disc-like wheel member;

Figure .5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating in detail the manner in which the slide and disc-like wheel member are frictionally engaged and further showing the trough or groove for receiving gauge blocks or rods to thereby limit the rotational movement of the disc-like wheel member; and Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken on line 6-4; of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows for further illustrating the manner in which the slide is adapted to be frictionally held in engagement with the peripheral surfaceof the disc-like wheel member.

In the drawings, the reference character .5 will generally beemployedto indicate a casting having a baseIB and a pair of upright supports 1 and 8 adjacent the ends thereof. The upper portionsjof the. uprights l and 8 are connected by a tubular member 9 either integrated therewith V or secured thereto. The tubular member 9 is provided adjacent its ends with reduced bearing portions I0 for receiving a tubularshaft l2. one end of which projects beyond the upright 8 and is adapted to. be provided witha control mechanism which will be hereinafter more fully :described.- The other end of the tubular shaft [2 is provided with a work support including a disc 43 to which is attached acentering disc M. The

centering disc Hi may be removed from the disc i3 and said disc maybe provided with a series of openings or radially extending key slots for receiving the heads of clamping bolts to facilitate the clamping of work thereto.

Freely mounted on the protruding end of the tubular shaft 12 is a yoke member I5 having parallel leg portions I6 and I! secured together at one end by a connecting portion I 8. The leg portion I l is oifset as at I 9 so as to cooperate with the leg portion l6 and terminates in a pair of closely spaced bearing members and. 2!, which encircle the projecting end of the tubular shaft l2 and are anti-frictionally supported thereon by anti-friction rolls or balls 22 mounted between the inner and outer race members 23 and 24 carried by the projecting end of the shaft I 2 and bearing members 20 and 2| respectively. A locking cap 26 is secured to the thread-ed end 2'! of the tubular shaft l2 and said locking cap is provided with a radially extending flange 28 adapted to overlie the outermost set of inner and outer race members as well as the anti-friction balls 22 so as to protect the same against the intrusion of dirt or the like.

Keyed to the tubularshaft l2 and disposed between the leg portions l6 and I! of the yoke I5 is a disc-like wheel member 29 whichis adapted to be held in place by the gib or key 30 so that the disc-like. wheel member 29 will rotate with the tubular shaft l2. The inner race members 23 of the anti-friction bearing members 22 prevent lateral movement of the disc-like wheel member and the key 30 is intended to securely lock the disc-like wheel member to the rotary shaft.

In order to prevent turning movement of the yoke member IS, the base 6 of the indexing and dividing apparatus is provided with a pair of forwardly extending projections '32 and 33 which extend on opposite sides of the connecting portion l8 of the yoke. Formed in the upper side of the forwardly extending projections 32 and 33 is a pair of aligned notches 34 and 35 for slidably receiving a slide bar 36 which is rectangular in cross section and disposed with its upperedge in frictional contact with the peripheral surface of ,the disc-like wheel member 29. The slide bar 36 is freely slidable within the notches 34 and 35 so that upon movement thereof, the disc-like wheel member 29 will be rotated a corresponding amount.

' Extending laterally from the slide bar 36 is a longitudinally extending platform 31 having a V-shaped groove 38 in its top wall for receiving i gauge rods G of various lengths. A laterally extending stop projection 39 is formed on the slide 36 and is provided with a contact base 40 adapted to engage one end of the gauge rod G to thereby hold the same in position. The other end of the gauge rod is adapted to be engaged by a stop member including a bracket plate afliXed to the end of the forwardly extending projection by screws or the like as at 4!. Formed integral with the bracket plate is an upstanding portion 42 having a rearwardly extending 'portion 43 which terminates in a gauge rod contacting boss 44.

The outer face of the longitudinally extending platform 31 is provided with a dove-tailed slot 45 for receiving a slide plate 46 provided at one end with a tubular projection 47 for threadedly receiving the stop screw 48. One end of the stop screw 48 is adapted to contact the upwardly extending portion 42 of the bracket plate and the other end-is provided with, a knurled thumbpiece 48a to facilitate tightening ofthe gauge block between the movable and stationary contacts 49 and 44. A locking screw 49 is mounted in a threaded opening in the slide plate 46 so as to engage the bottom wall of the dovetailed slot or groove 45 and thereby lock the slide in a predetermined adjusted position. A fingerpiece 50 is provided on the locking screw 49 to facilitate turning thereof.

Formed integral with the forwardly extending projections 32 and 33 is a pair of oppositely extending wing portions 5! and 52 which are recessed as at 53 and 54 for receiving slide rod supporting rollers 55 and 56. The rollers 55 and 56 are journaled on suitable pins 58 extending through the wing extensions 5i and 52. Thus. the

the pressure rollers 57.

slide bar 36 will have its bottom wall engaged by the rollers 55 and 56 when the same is slid to and fro to thereby prevent the sagging of the bar in the extreme position for movement thereof.

In order to holdthe slide bar 36 in frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of the disc-like Wheel 29, a pair of pressure rollers 51a are adapted to engage the underside of the slide bar 36 and force the same upwardly a slight amount to prevent slippage between the slide bar anddisc-like wheel member 29. The pressure rollers 51a are supported on a fulcrum lever 58a and are mounted on the ends of a small pivot pin 59' (Figure 5) in such a manner as to ol er ate in a cutaway portion 60 of the connecting end of the yoke 15 (Figure 6). One end of the fulcrum lever 58a is formed with a semi-spherical projection 6| which is received in a socket.

recess 62 in the connecting portion [8 of the yoke, and the free-swinging end of the fulcrum lever is adapted to be adjusted by means of an eccentric pin 63 formed on the end of a rotary control shaft 54 (Figure 4). The rotary control shaft 64 is journaled in a suitable bearing opening 65 extending inwardly from the leg portion I I of the yoke so that rotation of the shaft 64 will cause the eccentrically positioned pin 63 to move the fulcrum lever 58a on its fulcrum point 6|. The outer end of the control shaft 64 is provided with an annular flange 61 having a circumferential slot 68 for receiving a locking screw 69 which is threaded in a suitable opening 19 in the yoke leg II. A. radially depending finger piece H is formed on the locking screw 69 to facilitate clamping of the annular flange 61 in its locked position. A knurled thumbpiece T2 is formed on the control shaft 64 to permit turning of the eccentric pin 63 and the adjusting of Thus, by adjusting the control shaft 64, various degrees of pressure may be exerted on the underside of the slide bar 36 to hold the upper surface thereof in frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of the disc-like wheel member 29. It is to be noted that the force exerted upwardly by the pressure rollers 5'! exerts a downward pressure on the projecting end of the tubular shaft I2 and not on the base or frame structure so as not to distort the frame structure and cause inaccuracies to appear in the division of the work piece.

In operation, the base 5 is positioned on the bed or work table of a grinding machine or machine tool so that the rotary work support I3 is disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the grinding wheel or other metal removing tool. The slide 36 is moved to a position so that the contact 48-is in engagement with the contact 44 withthe slide 36 being held in position by adjusting the slide plate 46 along the dovetailed keyway or slot 45 and adjusting the lock screw 48 so as to hold the surfaces of the contactsv 46 and 44 in engagement. With this position as a starting point, the slide bar 36 will be at the" lirnit*o v p "like wheel member- 2-9w-il1'be held against rotac eeses us "so casewor supported on the c'enteri ngdisc 51 4 andwork supporting d-isc l3 may he -ope'ra'ted on by the *machine toolor grinding-wheel to cut a notch or the -like the "peripheral "surface thereof. I

"It will beass'ume'd "that the number of divisions required in the peripheral "surface or the work pieee has already been determined and order to mov-e' the wheel-like disc member 2a to anew position, it is simpl'y necessary to select-the correct auge rod G -for insertion between the contacts 40- and atter they have been slightly' separated. n the second notch taken by the grinding Inachine,agauge rod G of predetermined-length is supported on the platform 31- -Within the groove 38 there'0f-an-d the slide 36 is moved until the contact ill'thereon engages one :endof the g'auge rod G and forces the same into en'gagement with the contact. By then :adjusting the slidei late 4.5 andthe lockin'g screw 48, the disc-:likeywheel member 2 9" will be held-inits predetemiinedangiularpositionior being :operated on bythe machine tool or grinding wheel so ast-o form anotch in circumferentially spacedrelation from the first notch in-the'peripheral surface'ef the workpiece.

Inorderto avoid erroryand insure the correct division of the workpiece in accordance withlpredetermined angulanpositionsof thenotches, the first gauge rod G is removed and anothercgauge rod inserted "of substantially twice the length of the firstigauge rod. When the second gauge rod is inserted; thesslide 3-6 maybe movedtotherisht so that the secondtgauge rod may bBIDOSitiOIlBd between the stops'40 and 44 so that when the slide 35 is again moved to'the left, the:gauge blo-ckwill beheldin positionby the stop screw-48. and'will be disposed, between the: contactipor-tions :40. and M soas to lock the disc-like member 29 and the workpiece in a third circumieren-tially spaced position. Each time the disc-likedividinghead 29 is rotated and locked bymeans of various gauge --block,s- G and. the locking scre.w=48., la newzgauge block is employed, for if thez uge-blocks wer simply added one, t'othe. other, extreme" accuracy would be prevented "and the last notch out in the work piece would be spaced a greater circumferential distance from the first notch.

'As; an example, in the operation-of the dividing and indexing device let it besupliosed'that the di'SGr-Iikfi, indexing head 29,is exactly .23 inches "in circumference. so that each time the slide 'bar dfi is moved 23 inches, therotary dividing rhead 'EB will be rotated one revolution. Again, let-"'itbe assumed that his required to cut markings or form notches in a work piece such as an indexing disc or the like supported by'the work supporting discs 13 which areequally and circumferentially spaced '22 degrees apart. Since the circumference of the disc-like indexing head 2!! is 23 inches, it is simply necessary to multiply the angular distance. (2-2 degrees) by thecircumference of the disc-like Wheel member which; 'has been indicated as being zfizinches, and then :dividing the. multiplicand by=-360 degrees! The. quotient willfisqual the. linear distance or spacing "between, the cod tacts 40 and 44 necessary to produce angularpositioning of the indexing head and Work piece from the starting point on an arc angle of 22 degrees. In the particular instance stated, a gauge block of 1.4055'would be necessary for positioning the Wheel-like member or indexing head 29, 22 degrees from the starting point at which the first out was taken with the contacts 40 and 44 in en- 6 gagem'ent. Afiter thesecond-notch or -marmhas been madein' the work piece, the sli de-ifi is moved w th right after releasing the stop "screw :s o that a new gauge block-may be insertedlwhe-r eupon return movement of the slide "bar "36 will causethe stop 40=to engage one'end' ofth'e newly positioned-gauge block arid 'forc'e :the other end into. engagement with-the contact 44. The lock screw 4! isthen adjusted to tighten the gauge bl'ock in place and again lockthe indexinghead orwheeI-like'member 29 in f-positi onffor the cut.- tingiofthe'third notchor markin' the work piece. Thethird -marking or notch: cut inthe work'piece wilt-be spaced an angular distance 0M4" from the initial starting point or 22 ffrom the first ucut marking or notch formed ,:on the workpiece. It is toz'loe noted that the second-"positioned gauge i block (it will have a Iengthof 2;81'1 inches ifthe angular distance is again computed as-vahove set forth in connection with "the second mark or notch.

It will thusbe seen that-instead of employing two gauge rods or blocks of 1.4055 inchesjfor the positioning of the indexing or wheel-like head to form the third notch, a single gauge block :of 21 811 .inchesis used so as-toeliminate the .0001 error existing between two gauge "rods or-blocks of"1.4055-inches which wouldigive a total of 23116 inches instead of the 2.8111 inches required. 6b,- viouslm-if a series of :gauge blocks are used by doubling the length thereofieachtime, considerable error would appear in the circumferential posltion'of the 'lastnotch or markingin the work pieeeso that the last notch wou-ldnot be. exactly positioned and would be spaced aj-greater circumferential distance from the first cut or-notch the workpiece. eliminating-the end fraction upon-each division of. the indexing head through computation of each gauge-block orrod dimension required for each angular positioning of the-dridexing or wheel-like head 29, extreme accuracy and precision may be accomplished'or acquired and master indexing plates and gears may he made-having a higher degree of; precision'and accuracy than ones made with indexing heads Where sight line markings are depended upon to control thewpositioning'of the indexing head for various angular positions thereof.

When the angle of the circumferential :spacing is-not; given andinsteadthe -wor-k'piece. is specifled to he -equally divided-into a predetermined number-lofdivisions, agaugeblockis used for-teach division as pointed out inconnection with the angular spacing about predetermined arcs.

Eoninstancesuppose it is desired to divide the work piece into '73 equal divisions, circumferentiallyspaced with respect to oneanother. ;I t is imply necessary to-multiply the circumference by the; 3 73,, its, etc. Each computationiwould:givethe anehin-i-nc es oft-he required gauge. block.

A tual y-i h circumference wQ -ld never be e ctl'y23 in h sand in thepresentwstructu "t is, ntended to form the. disc =29, of e75, inch, 4. .ameter which will givea circumference (#235 619 inc-hes. Asaidoncrateaexample,'let it besupposed gears orinotches therein: asexpl-ained in corn nection with the description of the operation, when determining the required length of gauge block for a predetermined angular distance. With the circumference 23.5619 inches, the first division or /73 of 23.5619'inches will equal .3327 inch. Thus a gauge block of this length is necessary to produce the first division. For the secaccordingly.

The advantages of applicants invention will be apparent from the last example in that it is obvious that the use of a gauge block or rod of .3327 inch will give the exact positioning of the disc 29 and work piece for the first division and that if it is attempted to add another gauge block of the same length to the first one for obtaining the second division, the sum total of the gauge blocks would equal .6454 instead of the required .6455, and that when a single gauge block is used for the second division greater accuracy is facilitatedand the difference, or 1/1 error is eliminated and overcome. Instead of the second division being A of an inch short as in the case of the use of two gauge blocks of .3327 inch, a single gauge block or rod of the exact length .6455 inch will produce accurate division and a high degree of precision.

The remaining notches or markings in the work piece may be formed in the peripheral surface thereof by repeating the operation above described and employing an individual gauge block of the required predetermined length for each setting.

In order to insure contactual engagement of the slide rod 36 with the disc-like indexing head 29, the eccentric pin 63 may be regulated and adjusted by simply turning the knurled fingerpiece 12 and then locking the same in position by tightening the screw 69 so as to clamp the radially extending flange 61 to the yoke 15. Obviously, the slide bar 36 can be so shaped as to provide a friction grip with the disc-like indexing head 29 as by forming the slide 36 with a V-shaped edge for engaging within a V-shaped groove in the periphery of the disc-like indexing head. 29. Suitable locking means may be provided for the tubular shaft 12 to retain the same in a set position when the indexing and dividing device is employedin forming or producing master gears and the like.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without arranged in opposed relation, means on the slide bar for supporting gauge rods of various lengths between said projections, and means carried by said slide bar for engaging one of said projections to lock the slide bar against movement and retain the projections in engagement With the ends of a gauge rod.

2. In an indexingand dividing apparatus, comprising a base, support means extending upwardly from said base, a rotary shaft journaled in said support means, work holding means on said shaft,

a yoke member having its leg portions received on said shaft, an indexing disc keyed to said shaft and disposed between the legs of said yoke member, a slide bar slidably guided by the base and extending between the legportions of said yoke in frictional engagement with said indexing disc, pressure rollers movably mounted in said yoke member adapted to urge the slide bar into frictional engagement with the indexing disc, projections carried by the slide bar and base arrangedin opposed relation, means on the slide bar for supporting gauge rods of various lengths between said projections, means carried by said slide bar for engaging one of said projections to lock the slide bar against movement and retain the projections in engagement with the ends of a gauge rod, and means carried by the slide bar for quickly adjusting the position of said means for engaging one of said projections along the slide bar.

3. In an indexing and dividing apparatus, comprising a base, support means extending upwardly from said base, a. rotary shaft journaled in said support means, work holding means on said shaft, a yoke member having its leg portions received on said shaft, an indexing disc keyed to said shaft and disposed between the legs of said yoke member, a slide bar slidably guided by the base and extendin between the leg portions of said yoke in frictional engagement with said indepartin from the spirit of the invention or the I scope of'the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: v

1. In an indexing and dividing apparatus, comprising a base, support means extending upwardly from said base, a rotary shaft journaled in said support means, work holding means on said shaft, a yoke member having its leg portions received on said shaft, an indexing disc keyed to said shaft and disposed between the legs of said yoke member, a slide bar s'lidably guided by the base and extending between the leg portions of said yoke in frictional engagement with said indexing disc, pressure rollers movably mounted in said yoke member adapted to urge the slide bar into frictional engagement with the indexing disc, projections carried by the slide bar and base 'dexing disc, pressure rollers movably mounted in said yoke member adapted to urge the slide bar into frictional engagement with the indexing disc, projections carried by the slide bar and base arranged in opposed relation, means on the slide bar for supporting gauge rods of various lengths between said projections, means carried by said slide bar for engaging one of said projections to lock the slide bar against movement and retain the projections in engagement with the ends of a gauge rod,'and manual control means for operating said means for urging the slide bar into frictional contactual engagement with said indexing disc.

CARL PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

